What is the significance of the incident at the swimming pool? What does the reveal about Finny and Gene and what does it add to our understanding of their relationship? (Rebecca)

                Gene's admiration for Finny grows after the pool incident because of Finny's humility. In chapter 3, the reader learns that winning at sports comes naturally to Finny. "You always win at sports... " (Knowles 35) This shows that Finny almost always expects himself to win. Finny beats the record so naturally that Gene not only looks up to him more, but envies him more too. "You're too good to be true."(44) The fact that Finny beat a school record in one try amazes Gene, but when Finny decides to keep it a secret, Gene feels even more jealous of Finny's modesty. Throughout the book, the reader can see that Gene is more competitive with Finny that Finny is with Gene. Finny does enjoy competition and rivalry, but Gene sees more of a need to be better than Finny. "Was he trying to impress me or something?" (44) Gene sees this as a competition, but Finny is more relaxed about it and thinks of it as more of a game.

                Finny sees winning as an important thing, but Gene is surprised when Finny doesn't feel the need to tell everyone. One of Finny's 'Commandments' is to always win at sports, however, this incident proves that he wins for himself, not anyone else. Showing off seems like something Finny would do a lot, because so many people admire him, but modesty shows that he doesn't only act based on what others think. "Perhaps for that reason his accomplishment took root in my mind and grew rapidly in the darkness where I had been forced to hide it." (44) Finny counted on Gene to keep this secret, which makes Gene feel closer, and more trusted by Finny. The two of them seem to be a team yet rivals. Finny's modesty stands prominent in Gene's mind, making him respect and envy Finny at the same time.

On pages 52-54, how does Gene’s view of their relationship change? (Be sure to explain his usage of enmity). What does he think of it? How do you know this? Why does he feel this way? Do you think it is accurate? Why or why not?(Rahul)

After Gene asks Finny what he would do if he wound up on the top of the class, Finny says, “I’d kill myself out of jealous envy” (Knowles 52). Gene draws the conclusion that Finny envies him in Academics just as much as Gene envies Finny in athletics. Gene loves the fact that Finny looks up to him on this front because it equals the playing field for both of them. In Gene’s mind, Finny no longer has the upper hand in the relationship.

Gene is so in love with this moment because he views Finny (who he calls his best friend) as a competitor or enemy. For example Gene says to himself, “You and Phineas are even already. You are even in enmity.” (Knowles 53). Firstly Gene uses the term “ already” as if he’s been waiting for a while to get on Finny’s level. Secondly, he describes their relationship as an “enmity” as if he and Finny have some sort of animosity toward each other, despite them being best friends and roommates. Gene then goes on to say “You did hate him for breaking that school swimming record, but so what? He hated you for getting an A in every course but one last term.” (Knowles 53). He feels as if Finny resents him for getting an A in every course, however I do not think was serious when he said he’d “kill himself”. He was indeed joking.

Gene isn’t accurate in the fact that Finny hates him for “getting an A in every course” (Knowles 52). A couple pages after Gene’s epiphany, Finny and Gene get into a small argument. Gene wants to stay in his room and study, whereas Finny wants him to come with him to watch Leper jump off of the tree limb. At the end of the argument Finny says “Don’t go. What the hell, it’s only a game” (Knowles 57). Finny later goes on to say “I didn’t know you needed to study.” (Knowles 58). However Gene goes to watch Leper jump. If Finny really didn’t want Gene to be better at academics, then why wouldn’t Finny force Gene to stop studying?. Finny is not jealous of Gene, Gene is wrong. Gene simply draws this conclusion because he is thinking immorally and competitively. The fact that Gene would stop studying is also quite symbolic. He would stop doing something that is very important to him and makes him better than Finny, in order to be at a social event and establish himself. Even when Finny is giving him a free pass to keep studying. Gene is blinded by his own envy. By calling Finny jealous he justifies his own unrightful jealousy.

(Anthony LaMonica) Assignment #2 Question #5: How would you characterize Gene at this point (the end of the reading)? Provide two specific examples from the story to support your answer.

Gene can be characterized in a numerous amount of ways based on how you perceive him. At this point in the story, we know that Gene is the narrator. But we also know that he is very fearful. During the flashback to summer, Gene repeatedly talks about how he fearful he is. On page 10 it says “Looking back now across fifteen years, I could see with great clarity the fear I lived… I felt fear’s echo along”. Just within these two lines from page 10, Gene states that he lived his life a very timid person. Throughout the story, I also feel Gene is Submissive. Throughout the flashback to summer, Gene is constantly letting Finny take the lead on. On page 33 it says “Yes, he practically saved my life. He had also practically lost it for me. I wouldn’t have been on that damn limb except for him. I wouldn’t have turned around, and so lost my balance, if he hadn’t been there”. Leading up to this quote Finny asked Gene if he was afraid of jumping out of the tree still. This caused Gene to feel like he had something to prove and climb the tree. On the limb he nearly falls but Finny catches him. If Gene wasn’t so easily controlled he wouldn’t have felt the need to climb the tree. This is one of the many quotes that shows Gene’s submissiveness.

-Anthony LaMonica

Assignment #2 (pg 21-40): Question #1 Who is Finny?

Through Gene’s perspective of his best friend, Phineas, or Finny, John Knowles created a character that was not only well adored by his teachers, but also by his classmates which he led around with a gregarious manner. “The Devon faculty had never before experienced a student who combined a calm, ignorance of the rules with a winning urge to be good, who seemed to love the school truly and deeply, ... The faculty threw up its hands over Phineas, and so loosened its grip on all of us.” (Knowles 22).On numerous occasions, Finny has used his casual honesty and smooth charisma to talk himself out of several run ins with his superiors, such as how he easily got himself and Gene out of trouble for missing dinner to go swimming. Such evidence of Finny’s confident attitude can be found on page 25 when he decided to wear a wild pink shirt. “He did wear it. No one else in the school could have done so without some risk of having it torn from his back. When the sternest of the Summer Session Masters, old Mr. Patch-Withers, came up to him after history class and asked about it, I watched him drawn but pink face become pinker with amusement as Finny politely explained the meaning of the  shirt.” (Knowles 25). Even with his bold and somewhat embarrassing fashion choice, his confidence never wavered. All throughout the day he managed to pull it off without any hesitation, even in the face of a strict teacher. Inevtiably, Finny’s magnetic personality also attracted the admiration of his other classmates, which began hang on this excting boy’s every word. His command expanded to becoming the ring leader of a large group, especially in the new game he created called “blitzball”. “ “Stop, stop!” cried Finny in a referee’s tone. Everybody halted, and Finny retrieved the ball; he talked better holding it.” (Knowles 39). To begin with, the author compared Finny’s voice to that of a referee, a person who has absolute power in a match, just as his character is a leader to the boys. The next key word in the phrase was “everybody”, another sign of the control Finny held . Lastly, even his body language suggested immense dominance, as holding the ball was a metaphorical way of displaying that he, Phineas, was the alpha and was in charge of the game. In conclusion, Gene’s best friend, while easily mislabeled a mere supporting character, can be distinguished as a persuasive and alluring commander. 

Assignment #2 Question #3 (Rei Halloran)

3) Re-read the opening paragraph of chapter 3. Explore and explain the quote “Yes, he had practically saved my life. He had also practically lost it for me” (33). Explain what Gene is saying and why he is saying it at this point. What are the larger implications of what he is saying? 

“Yes, he had practically saved my life. He had also practically lost it for me” (Knowles 33) Gene says this at the beginning of chapter 3 about Phineas. Gene is blaming Phineas for the little accident that happened the previous night. Although Phineas saved Gene's life, he also almost made him kill himself. If it wasn't for Phineas's 'Super Suicide Society of the Summer Session', Gene would not have been up in the tree talking to Phineas, and he wouldn't have lost his balance. He starts to realize that Phineas is pressuring him to do these stupid things. "I wouldn't have been on that damn limp except for him." (Knowles 33) Gene begins to understand that Phineas is the dominant one in their friendship. "I noticed in that he did abide by certain rules, which he seemed to cast in the form of Commandments." (Knowles 35) Gene feels that he needs to do what Phineas says or he will lose the tight bond they have. "At that time it would never have occurred to me to say, 'I don't feel like it tonight', which was the plain truth every night. I was subject to the dictate of my mind, which gave me the maneuverability of a strait jacket." (Knowles 34) A lot of the time Gene does not want to do what Phineas is doing, but because of the fear of losing his best friend, he goes ahead and does it anyways. Gene knows that Phineas is a kind person and a great friend. "He got away with everything because of the extraordinary kind person he was. It was quite a compliment to me, as a matter of fact, to have such a person choose me for his best friend." (Knowles 29) Now he feels the need to do these foolish stunts with him because Phineas choose him as his best friend. 

Caleb Post 2 19-40 question 4 Realtionship between Gene and Fin

4) How does the invention of and the playing of Blitzball impact the relationship between Finny and Gene?

After seeing Finny create a new game and perform so impressively in it Gene becomes insecure and jealous.  Blitzball is a very important symbol in this book. It symbolizes the personalities of each person based on the way they play it. Finny, for example, is not afraid of the challenge and works hard to make sure he is the best. The way Finny plays completely displays his personality, he is one to take charge and face a challenge. Others like Leper are scared of the ball and refuse to carry it. Gene however is in the middle. He watches Finny perform amazingly and shows everyone how talented he is athletically. I believe this, like other traits Finny possesses, is what Gene is so jealous about. Gene claims he is happy for his best friend (Knowles 40) but in reality he is hiding his jealousy. He wishes he could have the personality and talents of Finny. I think Gene hides his real emotions in the book.
"It was good that Finny could shine at it. He could also shine at many other things" (Knowles 40)
Do you think that Finny is actually showing his real emotions and is truly happy for Finny, or is he just finding a way to mask his jealousy.

Magnus: Assignment: 1 Question: 2

Magnus Aske

2.)   Gene is narrating his own story of what happened when he was in high school. How do a. his perspective (1st person narration) and b. the retrospective (looking back and telling a story as if it were the present) influence you as a reader and how does it impact the credibility or integrity of the story being told?

         

          The first person narration in A Separate Peace adds a personal aspect and insight into Gene's experience at the Devon School. In addition to this, the fact that he is returning fifteen years later allows the reader to have a deep look into how the Devon School has changed Gene, how Gene has been affected by Phineas to this day, and finally how Gene has grown. One example of this happens on page fourteen as Gene says "This was the tree, and it seemed to me standing there to resemble those men, the giants of your childhood, whom you encounter years later and find that they are not merely smaller in relation to your growth, but that they are absolutely smaller, shrunken by age." (Knowles 14) As shown by this quotation, not only has Gene physically changed, but mentally changed due to it. Apart from his physical change altering his mindset, The Devon School has also done the same, and sprouted a love in him for the campus as seen on page 13. "With nothing to block it the wind flung wet gusts at me; at any other time I would have felt like a fool slogging through mud and rain, only to look at a tree." (Knowles 13) This comment made by Gene shows his love for The Devon School and the memories that he has had on its vast campus. He would be willing to freeze and trudge through muddy wet grass, while howling wind threw water at him. This is the dedication that he believes his memories with Finny and company deserve and why his love for his high school experience is so obvious. Another reason that the first person narrative is a strong aspect of the book is that the information about his Devon experience seems very accurate and detailed, as he is the on who lived through it. Especially on pages fourteen to twenty, his description of his jump and the pressure from Finny made the reader truly engaged which strengthened the connection to Gene. Gene is a sentimental character which not only loves The Devon School but interacting with those reading about his experience.